War Crimes Accusations Mount Against Israel (SLIDESHOW: GRAPHIC)

While those living in Gaza attempt to return to daily life, the international community struggles to understand the 21-day war between Israel and Hamas. After a United Nations school became the target of GPS-guided mortars, Western foreign ministries and human rights groups alike began to question the ethical and moral guidelines of warfare. Officials question whether some rules of war were possibly violated by both Hamas and Israel. Today, the Los Angeles Times also reported on the ethical implications faced by some Israelis.

Moral questions also linger among Israeli peace activists troubled by the relative lack of public introspection over the destruction and civilian deaths wrought by their army's immense firepower during the fighting in the cramped territory. They say Hamas' abuses do not erase Israel's responsibility for such incidents as the shelling of a United Nations school that killed dozens of civilians sheltered there. Even if Hamas had to be weakened, they wonder how their nation, where memories of the Holocaust are so thoroughly embedded, could look past the plight of 1.5 million Palestinians trapped in a dense war zone they couldn't escape.

As the firing ceased and officials looked closer at the destruction left behind, white phosphorus shelling appeared to have been used by the Israel Defense Forces. Though commonly used by militaries to obstruct the view of enemy combatants during battle, international law prohibits the use of white phosphorus when targeting civilians. The Telegraph reports that, "At least four human rights groups are believed to be compiling suits alleging that Israelis perpetrated war crimes in planning or carrying out the three-week operation Cast Lead."

See a slideshow below for images from the UNRWA School in Beit Lahia, Gaza, and from the streets of Gaza. The slideshow contains graphic images.

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Comments

[Michale32086]

@chaos4700

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Well, you seem to believe that white phosphorous is just hunky-dory to lob into densely populated urban areas is if it where as harmless as tapioca pudding.
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What military, combat or battlefield experience do you have??

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And for the record? The only documentation I've yet seen of anyone using human shields, is the IDF.
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Really???

http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Terrorism-+Obstacle+to+Peace/Hamas+war+against+Israel/Hamas+exploitation+of+civilians+as+human+shields+-+Photographic+evidence.htm

Of course, you won't believe any of that because it doesn't fit into your anti-Israel bigotry...

Michale...­.

[chaos4700]

This Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Seriously. That's really all that needs to be said about that.

[Michale32086]

Like I said...

You won't let ANY facts upset your anti-Israel bigotry..

Let me guess.. That really isn't HAMAS speaking on those videos, right??

That really isn't GAZA that you see all the missiles flying up from, right??

Can you truly appreciate how blinded you are by your bigotry??

Michale...­..

[chaos4700]

Also, just in case you were entertaining thoughts of drowning my link in thread spam: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/1/22/part_ii_palestinian_us_college_grad

[BubbaC33]

Why is it you seem to be unable or unwilling to answer the question I have asked of you so many times? You keep insisting Israel has to return to the pre-1967 for peace to come to the region. Yet there was no peace prior to 1967. There were Arab armies attacking Israel and PLO terrorists bombing civilians, but no peace. Yet you continue to claim a return will bring peace.
No one has to drown your postings or links. All we need to do is to see how you have failed to address a very simple question.

[Michale32086]

@AmericaWakeup

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Michale, are you serious.
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Always... Well, mostly... :D

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Let me see what you would do if I took over your home and put you in the bathroom and locked you in it and threw away the key.
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I wouldn't brutally murder your wife, your children, your grandchildren because of your actions...

What sane person would??

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I suppose you would be the terrorist if you wanted your freedom from the bathroom.
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You suppose wrong...

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and look at the illegal weapons they were using.
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It's been well established that Israel did not use illegal weapons. WillyPete is perfectly legitimate to use as a battlefield tactical smokescreen or as illumination. There is NO conclusive proof that Israel used WP in any other manner...

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The Zionists are occupying someone else"s land
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And all Americans are also occupying someone else's land..

What's yer point???

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So please your limited knowledge is pretty embarrassing. Zionist live off of pity from the world�.
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Your anti-semitic attitude is what is pretty embarrassi­ng...

Michale...­..

[sammyscout]

With the American political establishment firmly behind Israel's attack, and Obama's foreign policy team heavily weighted with pro-Israel insiders like Dennis Ross and Hillary Clinton, any efforts to hold Israel accountable in the United States will depend upon American citizens mobilizing a major grassroots effort behind a new foreign policy that will not tolerate any violations of international law, including those by Israel, and will immediately work towards ending Israel's siege of Gaza and ending Israel's occupation

BOYCOTT EVERYTHING ISRAELI - EMAIL YOUR CONGRESSMAN/SENATOR TO STAND UP TO ISR A EL AND ITS ATROCITIES

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[Macready]

I have and will continue . . . since I live in the UK I have also written to my MP and MEP . . . the plug has to be pulled on israel big time . . . and sanctions need to be imposed . . .

[BubbaC33]

Historically the Brits have been oppressors of Israel, Ireland and India. I wonder how they missed Iceland. The point is the Brits do not have a right to voice an opinion about whatever it is we do.

[batguano]

The Israeli leadership is mired in violence & hubris. They engage in behavior so inhumane & callous it borders on collective criminal insanity. Their indifference to the lives & livelihoods of millions is astonishing, but expected, given the history of war crimes perpetrated by early Zionist terrorists, the Israeli state & IDF. How could the world stand by & allow Israel to bomb Lebanon & now Gaza to dust, regardless of the rationalizing propaganda & deceit of Israeli leaders & pro-Israel lobbyists in America? Israel refuses to actually end any aspect of their occupation & illegal colonization by extremist "settlers" who brutalize Palestinians daily. After having colonized, imprisoned, assassinated, murdered & destroyed many tens of thousands of lives & civilian works both in the occupied territories & Lebanon it's time the world ...if there are any leaders left with conscience not in thrall to Israel....­.demand an end to Israeli occupation, in the WB & Gaza! We should give the many Jews & Israelis who struggle against the abominable actions & atrocities of their gov a much greater voice & representation in our press.

The Israeli leaders responsible should stand in the dock at The Hague!


http://globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=11680
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/4279102/Bullets-in-the-brain-shrapnel-in-the-spine-the-terrible-injuries-suffered-by-children-of-Gaza.html
http://www.progressive.org/mag/avnery010209.html
http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/5776

[sammyscout]

batguano,

awesome post and excellent links. the lesson is here is from world complacency. Under the cloak of being victims, the isr ae lis have gotten away with genocide again. There is an old fable about a village faw away is pillaged and no one cared. then another and no one cared. and then it was too late coz it was this village's turn. Is there no lesson we can learn from wall street and its collapse from greed and now Gaza.

[batguano]

How long must it continue for there to be an end to the killing, and justice administered? We all need to continue to work hard to help end this horror, to regain hope for the hopeless, and restore our national honour. It only starts here.

[primeelite]

I believe Israel has a right to defend itself but at the same time defending yourself and committing genocide are too different things. In this conflict it seemed Israel did not care about civilians and attacked places with reckless abandon.

[Michale32086]

It only seemed that way. Israel actually went out of it's way to warn innocent civilians before commencing their attacks, even at the expense of safety for their forces. The dropped millions of leaflets, made millions of cell phone calls to warn civilians and used sound bombs...

The fault for the extensive civilian casualties lies completely with HAMAS for using Human Shields and placing their military equipment in crowded urban areas..

In short, when HAMAS attacked Israel, Israeli leaders hurried their citizens into bunkers and shelters..

When Israel attacked HAMAS, HAMAS leaders hurried their citizens to the areas that were going to be attacked..­..

You do the math....

Michale...­..

[gakabani]

Excuses, excuses and more excuses. You should run for Congress!

[chaos4700]

OH! It only /seemed/ that way. But you have access to some greater truth, right?

I mean, the IDF gathered up the civilians, put them into designated homes and buildings to keep them out of the combat zone, right? So that no bombs or shells would accidentally fall on them, right?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/10/gaza-zeitoun-attack-deaths
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/20/gaza-israel-samouni-family

Er...

Well, they /did/ avoid attacking the neutral UN facilities, the schools and such, since those were some of the few guaranteed safe havens within the sealed borders of Gaza, right?
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE5053R720090106
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/international/middle_east/view/2009_01_15_UN_food_warehouse_set_ablaze_by_Israeli_shells/

Oh. It seems your math doesn't add up to what you thought it did.

[TruthSeeker2009]

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5575070.ece

[Michale32086]

@kimleehan

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I'm just trying to tell you the way it is, It has nothing to do with what I want or what you want, Its just the way it is, Israel does'nt recognize the international criminal court (ICC) Don't take my word for it , look it up. You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't use the ICC when it benifits you, and not use it when it does'nt.
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I "use" the ICC when the facts warrant such use..

And the FACTS are, Israel was in complete compliance with the ICC..

Look up the ROME STATUTE if you doubt me...

Michale...­..

[dare i hope]

Those who insist that it is U. S. _democracy_ that is breeding contempt in the Arab world will find the following instructional:

Aljazeera's coverage of Gazan children being treated in Cairo.

Warning: Horrendous and Graphic video footage of maimed children.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200912595830751937.html

Also worth viewing: Aljazeera video clip on stipulations on U.S. funding for the Israeli millitary:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F91XF6bSDRQ

[dare i hope]

While you're at it, might as well look at this article too:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/fatah-fears-gaza-conflict-has-put-hamas-in-the-ascendancy-1513430.html

[kimleehan]

Reuters, The International criminal court in the Hague said on wed 1-14-09 it lacks jurisdiction to investigate war crimes allegedly committed in Gaza.
The prosecuter's statement came after a Palestinian rights group called on the ICC to investigate Israel for committing war crimes during its 19- day old offensive in Gaza, the office of the prosecuter said the court's jurisdiction is limited to war crimes, crimes against humanity and the crimes of genocide committed on a territory of, or by national of a state party.

[Michale32086]

And what have I been saying the last week??

That "nothing will come" of any war crime accusation­s..

I guess that date at The Hague is off, eh Chaos?? :D

Michale...­..

[CATO90025]

My favorite target that was blown up was the Danish Center for Torture Rehabilitation!

Those dammn Danes!

[thruthseeker]

It took a rabid anti communist like Nixon to open relations with Communist China.
It will take a Right winger in Israel to make the concessions necessary for a lasting Peace

[BubbaC33]

No, what it will take is the recognition by the Arab world of Israel's right to exist within defensible borders. That hasn't happened.

[CATO90025]

Canard--

And dear felloe who created Hamas--Dear Israel isthe answer

[Freenation]

WSJ is selling radical Netanyahu is going to be next PM, this is going to be BAD news for everyone:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123275466964911679.html

"Israel's would-be prime minister says he was mocked for warning of the Gaza rocket threat."

"I don't think Israel can accept an Iranian terror base next to its major cities any more than the United States could accept an al Qaeda base next to New York City."

"We grieve for every child, for every innocent civilian that's killed either on our side or on the Palestinian side."

"When Mr. Olmert announced Israel's cease-fire late Saturday night, he could hardly keep a grin off his face"

[Spin is ON, Yeah right we all remember smirk on Olmert face at time of ceasefire declaration, shame]

WSJ conduct is shameful, not once did I see any reference of 750+ civilians killed by IDF neither of the war crime charges..

WSJ should be Boycotted.­..

[chaos4700]

Well? the WSJ is owned by Rupert Murdock now. Not surprisingly, the corner of the fourth estate wasn't there to be the safety net against things like the financial crisis and the Madoff scandal for that matter, which is something I predicted when Murdock took ownership. He's ruined the paper for what little credibility it ever had as far as journalism is concerned.

[Freenation]

Some interesting article from World:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7850085.stm

"Any Israeli soldiers accused of war crimes in the Gaza Strip will be given state protection from prosecution overseas, the country's PM has said."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/a-shameful-war-israel-in-the-dock-over-assault-on-gaza-1515320.html

"Meanwhile, Khaled Abed Rabbo said a single soldier shot three of his young daughters from a tank, killing two, as they obeyed orders to flee their home on the outer edge of Jabalya."

[slithers]

All spin

[mikesw]

Why did Israel pointedly withdraw their troops from Gaza just in time for President Obama's inauguration?

Did their military actions just happen to coincide with the political calendar, or did the political calendar influence the military actions?

[Tom Joad]

you already know the answer to those questions.

[balrog221]

great name